TIMBER ALLOCATION BUYBACK IN NSW

The recent announcement by Primary Industries Minister, Katrina Hodgkinson, that NSW taxpayers will pay Boral $8.55 million to buy back 50,000 cubic metres of timber allocations annually for the next nine years, is final confirmation by the Government of what conservationists have been warning them for a decade, that current logging is unsustainable.

The decision has been welcomed by some as a move that will see positive outcomes for forest health. However, the reality is that Forests Corp, formerly Forests NSW, has been unable to fulfil contracts for over a decade, saddling NSW taxpayers with a compensation bill for millions of dollars. Between 2004 and 2012 that timber supply shortfall amounted to an average of 40,400m³ of high quality saw logs annually. So buying back 50,000m³ will only see a reduction in logging rates of about 9,600m³ annually, meaning the carnage will continue.

The original plan, as outlined in the 1999 Regional Forest Agreements, was for a 20 year timber supply agreement, with a dramatic cut in native forest logging post 2020, and plantations taking over much of the supply. Forests NSW inability to fill contracts saw the end date extended to 2023. However, the worst part of this deal is, as Minister Hodgkinson's media release explains, the timber quota reduction will allow logging of native forests to continue indefinitely beyond 2023.

This latest $8.55 million payment to Boral comes on top of $11 million compensation paid to millers since 2000. As well as this latest payment, Boral received $2.78 million for an earlier buy-back; $550,000 compensation in about 2004 for short supply, and another undisclosed pay-out within the last twelve months.

In attempting to fill contracts, Forests Corp has been logging private property, thus extending the carnage beyond state forests and now, in another desperate bid to find timber, they plan to log previously protected steep land using the technique of cable logging. How they hope to become profitable using that expensive technique, when recording multi-million dollar losses through traditional logging, is a mystery.

- John Edwards

This post was published in the VOICES FOR THE EARTH column in The Daily Examiner on July 21, 2014.

FLYING FOXES VITAL TO THE TIMBER INDUSTRY

Some studies have already demonstrated the role flying-foxes play in pollinating native forests, but a recent study in Ghana by biologist Dr Dan Taylor BCI has determined more firmly the species' value in timber production. This study focussed on the Iroko tree, the source of 17% of Ghana’s timber revenue, and found that only bats scatter undamaged seeds from Iroko fruit in vast quantities - often up to 300 million seeds each night - across many kilometres of forest floor.

Australian flying-foxes live mainly on nectar, and our eucalypt trees have adapted to nocturnal pollination by producing pale flowers at the ends of their branches, and their greatest nectar levels around midnight. This ensures pollen is carried often up to 50km radius on flying-foxes’ fur. In spring and summer when roosts become maternity and creche sites the females in particular must find their food in closer forests. At this time the animals form defined streams at fly-out time heading towards the most prolific flowering forests, mostly ignoring semi-ripe domestic fruit in orchards and gardens

During migration in March and April their diet shifts to ripened forest fruits, to maintain higher energy levels and keep their bellies full for longer distances. Australia's most juicy fruiting trees and shrubs (figs, lilly-pilly, koda etc) occur mostly in rainforests, but these have been so decimated by human activities that with domestic fruits fully ripe by this time, it is quite unrealistic to expect hungry animals not to use them.

Similarly in the breeding season, if the trees fail to blossom or produce abundant nectar, then ripening domestic fruits become their target. During drought times 25% of flying-foxes shot or wounded under licence are lactating or pregnant females. It is also well-known by wildlife care groups that if flying-foxes attack banana or coffee plantations, they are starving.

We can all learn from the actions of one small African nation. In Ghana flying-foxes are now fully protected, and the government is busy establishing educational and viewing facilities to aid their eco-tourist trade and forestry industry.

Perhaps instead of negative reactions of aggression and abuse, of animals that are working at growing our most useful timber trees, people who live in sight of a flying-fox colony might open their doors to tourists at a cost of $20 a head, with coffee and a bun included in a chance to study and photograph these amazing, unique animals.

- P Edwards

INQUIRY INTO NATIONAL PARKS BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

A committee of the Upper House of the NSW Parliament, the Legislative Council, will be inquiring into some of the states' national parks.  

The Inquiry has been called by the Chair of the General Purpose Standing Committee No. 5, Robert Brown (Shooters and Fishers Party) and three National Party members. 

This Inquiry into Public Land Management in New South Wales intends to examine the "process of conversion of Crown Lands, State Forests and agricultural land into National Park estate or other types of conservation areas". It is aimed particularly at the River Red Gum forests of the Southern Riverina and parks created from native hardwood forests in northern NSW.

There is widespread concern that this is the beginning of a further push by the Shooters and Fishers to open up national parks to hunters. Robert Brown has been campaigning for this for years.

Another possible motive for targeting national parks relates to NSW State Forests long-term over-commitment of timber resources in this state.  According to the North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) spokesperson Dailan Pugh, "The National Party was well aware of the supply crisis before the election and some members expressed their preference for opening up national parks for logging, though the Coalition denied they had any intent to do so."

Following concerns expressed by NEFA, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW and the Wilderness Society, the NSW Minister for the Environment, Robyn Parker, issued a media release denying there would be any reversal of the Red Gum forests legislation or that hunting would be allowed in national parks.  The media release dealt in some detail with what the government was doing with the River Red Gum parks but did not allay concern about whether the government had any plans for logging in national parks.

NEFA is calling on people to contact their local State Government member to ask them for personal commitments that they will not support either the revoking of national parks or opening them up for logging and shooting. Concerned people could also contact the Premier, Barry O'Farrell. 

Politician Contact Details:

Chris Gulaptis M.P., Member for Clarence

11 Prince Street, Grafton, NSW  2460

Phone: (02) 6643 1244
Email: clarence@parliament.nsw.gov.au  

Andrew Fraser, M.P., Member for Coffs Harbour

1/9 Park Avenue, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450

Phone: (02) 66526500

Email: coffsharbour@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Thomas George M.P., Member for Lismore

PO Box 52, Lismore, NSW 2480

Phone: (02) 66213624

Email: lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Hon. Barry O'Farrell

Premier of NSW

Parliament House

Macquarie St Sydney NSW 2000

Email: office@premier.nsw.gov.au